Walt Disney Animation Japan
Walt Disney Animation Japan was an animation studio located in Tokyo, Japan, that produced feature films and television series for DisneyToon Studios, the Disney division charged with spin-off properties from established Disney characters. The studio was founded in 1989 with the acquisition of Pacific Animation Corporation and by ex-employees of Tokyo Movie Shinsha; The studio was founded by Motoyoshi Tokunaga, an ex TMS producer.
In 2003, Disney announced that they would shut down the studio, which then employed 103 local animators and artists. The closure was a part of Disney's shift from traditional hand-drawn animation to computer animation, and it was explained with: "...after reviewing our business plans and production requirements, we determined we no longer can support this additional production capacity." Completing their last project Pooh's Heffalump Movie, Walt Disney Animation Japan closed in June 2004.
